PMC Recognizes and Honors Its Volunteers

Humor writer Erma Bombeck said, “Volunteers are the only
human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion,
unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.”

The Parrish
Medical Center (PMC) Auxiliary (volunteers) are no different, and we celebrate
them during National Healthcare Volunteer Week, April 15–21, 2012.

PMC’s
auxilians are a large part of our care partner group of employees, physicians
and auxiliary. With more than 400 members, our auxilians are an integral part
of the PMC family. They generously donate their time and talents because they
want to help make a difference in other people’s lives. About 50 local teens
volunteer alongside mostly senior adults—those who have retired from their
“jobs,” but not from life.

The PMC
Auxiliary has been helping in the hospital for more than 50 years. Formed
shortly after the first hospital was built, even then these dedicated community
members saw the need and responded. At the September 2011 volunteer
celebration, 61 auxilians were recognized for having given 144,150 total hours
of service over their volunteer tenure, which is equal to 358 years of
volunteer service to PMC.

Auxilians
work in almost every area of PMC and its family of off-site facilities and
services. They also help at events throughout the year, sponsor Breakfast With
Santa and the annual Gift of Light celebration during the holidays. They manage
PMC’s Lifeline program. With 400 units in service in North Brevard, Lifeline
supplies a vital emergency connection for North Brevard residents who have
medical problems or live alone.

The PMC
Auxiliary earns money through its Pink Angle Gift Shop and other fund-raising
events during the year. But the Auxiliary doesn’t keep the money they make from
these endeavors for themselves. It’s donated back to PMC in the form of
programs, services and equipment that support PMC’s mission and vision.

In recent
years the PMC Auxiliary has pledged and/or donated $75,000 to The Children's
Center, $300,000 to the Children's Center Futures Fund, and $150,000 to the
Parrish Medical Center Donation account. They award approximately $20,000 in
scholarships yearly to high school and college students in the North Brevard
County Hospital District who are pursuing a degree in a human health-related
field. They also donated the baby grand piano that sits in the hospital atrium
and brings enjoyment throughout the year as volunteer musicians share their
musical talents.

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“The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered, and in order that the sick may have the benefit of advancing knowledge, [a] union of forces is necessary.” — Dr. William J. Mayo, founder of Mayo Clinic
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